Declining since 1989.
Popularity of Tawny since 1947
Babies named Tawny per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 27 |
| 1950s | 185 |
| 1960s | 511 |
| 1970s | 575 |
| 1980s | 1,542 |
| 1990s | 1,052 |
| 2000s | 256 |
| 2010s | 64 |
| 2020s | 16 |
Meaning & origin
Tawny is a color name that first appeared on U.S. birth certificates in 1947. It reached its highest usage in 1989, the peak year for the name. While it never entered the top 1000, its trajectory has been falling since 1989, reflecting a broader shift away from 1980s-era color and nature names. Tawny remains a distinctive choice, favored for its warm, earthy associations.
Tawny is an English word name taken directly from the color term, which entered Middle English via Old French 'tané' (meaning 'tanned') from Latin 'tannare' (to tan leather). As a given name, it emerged in the United States in the mid-20th century, part of a trend of nature- and color-inspired names. Its usage peaked in the 1980s and has since declined.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Tawn
Sibling names for Tawny
Names that share Tawny's style, for a brother or sister.
